Balenciaga Fall 2012

Credit: Vogue.com

Balenciaga, Inc. showcases Nicolas Ghesquière’s innovative and futuristic take on corporate dress. And I love how his idea of everyday business wear involves neon panels folded over all-encompassing jackets and “pixilated graphic-patterned bustier dresses” (see Sarah Mower’s review). Boxy jackets with squared-off shoulders and sharp A-line skirts reveal Ghesquière’s extraordinary technique in cutting whereas his unique fabric choices lend a futuristic tone to the collection. The depicted contours are reminiscent of the eighties power suits as the voluminous jackets fully envelop the wearer. Moreover, Ghesquière sculpts his pieces in a way that prevents the roomy silhouettes from becoming bulky or cumbersome. For all the complexity of Ghesquière’s fabric experiment, there is a fluidity to it that is really lovely to see. He has found a way to parse down complicated techniques into clean, elegant looks. And while I am not particularly fond of the sci-fi aesthetic, I can certainly appreciate Ghesquière’s talent for creating cutting-edge and intelligent collections.